Rescue missions mounted by the County Air Ambulance cost around £1,000 each, according to figures released this week.
The UK's largest air ambulance service completes two or three incidents a day per aircraft, equating to more than 2,000 incidents every year.
Ian Clayton, air operations manager, said: "The operating cost for the charity equates to £16 every minute we fly, and our missions on average take one hour from lift off to set down at the hospital."
Paul Weir, fundraising development manager for the service - which depends entirely on public donations to survive - said: "The cost of the missions is covered as a direct result of the kind commitment from the public and businesses."
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